Frugal Village

photo by multitrack

There aren’t enough hours in the day. I can always find one more thing to do before going to bed, and I try to squeeze in extra tasks each day to make the following day more manageable. I’m not alone. Many people have mile-long to-do lists that don’t include making time for things that really matter to them, let alone things that bring connectedness and joy.

I realized my life was moving too fast when I started to view activities such as watching a movie, reading a book or a day at the beach as unproductive. My husband would urge me to relax, and I would get agitated, as if it were impossible. I always had things to do. I coasted along with my active schedule and occasional outbursts of irritability until I noticed how often I said “in a minute” and “maybe tomorrow” to my family. I knew my need to get things done wasn’t going to change, but it was time to re-evaluate my choices. You can’t get time back, but it’s not too late to start a new and improved to-do list.

REFLECT: Think about how you feel. If you’re like I was, where your legs are moving even when you’re sitting, or you wake up in the middle of the night thinking you’re in the car driving or running late, it’s time to slow down. Understand that the busier you are, the more likely you are to lose sleep and feel stressed. In time, you’ll find that it becomes easier to get stressed, and a lack of sleep makes you less productive. Being busy shouldn’t be something to brag about. Awareness of your true feelings is the beginning of making changes.

SIMPLIFY: What can you eliminate from your day or week? Can you cut something low priority from your to-do list? Also, there’s a vicious cycle of working harder and faster in order to buy more stuff. Frugality teaches you to use less and want less. Does it make sense to work longer for things you don’t have time to use or enjoy? Don’t feel guilty about doing absolutely nothing, or something enjoyable that’s slower-paced. It can be a tough transition, but soon that reclaimed time is going to help create balance and feed your happiness.

SHARE: Tell the people in your life about the changes you want to make so they can support you. Give yourself and others permission to take time off. You might discover they’ve wanted to simplify their lives, too.

ACCEPT: You fully control what is on your list. It’s OK if you don’t accomplish it all. Your life doesn’t have to be as busy as you make it. You can’t beat the clock.

LEARN: Read books and Web sites about the Slow Movement (www.slowmovement.com) and voluntary simplicity (www.simpleliving.net/main) for more information to help you slow down. Of course, I’m not implying you quit your job or shrug off responsibilities for an afternoon of cloud gazing, but learn to put yourself and your family on your to-do list. Try talking more slowly and listening more. Paying yourself first is a concept that relates to both money and time.

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